When John Dolittle (Eddie Murphy) was a child he realized that he could speak to animals. However, when his father, Archer (Ossie Davis), convinced him that this was crazy behavior, John stopped talking to animals for so long that he forgot that he possessed this ability. Years later, after becoming a medical doctor, Doctor Dolittle realizes, once again, that he can speak to animals, and his life changes forever. Along for the journey are Dolittle’s two daughters, Maya (Kyla Pratt) and Charisse (Raven-Symoné), and his wife, Lisa (Kristen Wilson), and their lives will also be perpetually altered. While things may initially look dismal, the reality is that this is, in fact, a gift; John just needs to figure that out.
Murphy is immensely talented and hysterically funny, but his bread and butter has been films geared toward adults. Films like Coming to America and Harlem Nights are just a couple that found Murphy success in cinema, but as his career continued on he found his way into a number of films intended for children and younger audiences. Doctor Dolittle, while rated PG-13, contains a number of elements that are sure to entertain the entire family, such as talking animals and the idea of trying to fit in as a child. These elements make the film fun, but also a tad too cheesy from time to time.
The corniness that exists throughout the film makes it difficult on occasion for adult audiences to appreciate the film. Sure, the idea is cute and stems from a classic film and a series of stories before that, but the reality is that even Murphy’s prowess as a comedian can’t fully save it. Doctor Dolittle is fun and full of life, however, the cheesiness is so strong throughout that it becomes difficult to look past that aspect of the film and appreciate all that went into developing what had hoped to be a blockbuster hit.
The acting throughout is decent, and what little emotion is present in Doctor Dolittle is conveyed appropriately. There is something about the context of the emotion that makes it difficult to relate to what is transpiring, however. The reality is that the animals that exist in Doctor Dolittle are computer generated images (CGI) that are often somewhat subpar, and as the film plays out and the potentially emotional moments come into existence, viewers struggle to connect with these often clearly fake animals. Emotion essentially goes out the window and viewers are left with a shell of something that could have been: family fun with a genuine message of individuality.
I can remember liking Doctor Dolittle when I was a kid (just seven at the time of its release), but this film does not translate well to adulthood. The film ultimately fails to entertain like I had hoped, and it often becomes challenging to remain focused throughout the course of Betty Thomas’s film. As every underwhelming minute plays out Murphy loses a bit of credibility in Hollywood, and Doctor Dolittle’s allure disappears just as quickly. The most entertaining aspect of the film is the impeccable cast, as the film is full of massive stars. I remembered there being more substance, but clearly I was wrong.
Directed by Betty Thomas.
Written by Hugh Lofting, Nat Mauldin, & Larry Levin.
Starring Eddie Murphy, Peter Boyle, Ossie Davis, Oliver Platt, Richard Schiff, Kristen Wilson, Jeffrey Tambor, Kyla Pratt, Raven-Symoné, Norm MacDonald, Albert Brooks, Chris Rock, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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